In what is likely going to end up being the biggest surprise of the 1. FC Köln summer-transfer action, Miso Brecko has transferred to 1. FC Nürnberg in the 2. Bundesliga.

“It came as a surprise to me, too,” says coach Peter Stöger. “The transfer was not driven by us. It was his wish.”

There had been some speculation earlier in the year that Brecko might seek a future elsewhere. He had lost his starting role to Pawel Olkowski reasonably early in the season, collecting six of his 17 starts on the season once the young Pole was lost to for the remainder of the season to injury. The Köln media feasted on the imagery of Brecko being the first player to leave the post-season team party, thinking it a symbol of a pending departure.

Marc L. Merten of Geissblog reports that Brecko informed the FC on Wednesday that he had been contacted by 1. FC Nürnberg, in need of an experienced defender after surendering half-a-dozen goals in their 6:3 season-opening loss at SC Freiburg. Between the likelihood of having a regular staring role and the challenge of helping another traditional club fight its way back to the first division, Brecko saw opportunity and requested the move be made.

“Those who know me know that when someone decides that they would like to do something different, and the financial implications are okay, we will find a way,” says Stöger in explaining his input on the matter. “I am sorry for it, of course, but when it is his wish, I won’t lose any sleep over it, because this way nobody has done poorly by him.”

Brecko logged more than 19,000 minutes over the course of 225 games in seven seasons with the effzeh. Brecko, a longtime fixture at right back in Köln, also had served as captain the last three years, since taking the armband from Pedro Geromel in the wake of the turnover that followed the club’s relegation to the second division following the 2011-12 season.